This photo of the boar shifting themselves through the deep snow was taken back in January at full zoom. It took me some time to track them down again to get the close-up shots.
Apart from the snow, the title is also apt because despite the efforts of the Forestry Commission and others, they are still here. They were featured on BBC Countryfile this evening, where Dr Martin Goulding was promoting the introduction of a close season on the culling of the boar. In my opinion this would go a long way towards a more ethical management of the boar, and give some credibility to the claims that the intention is to control, not eradicate, the boar population.
I've still got a couple more shots from this series to upload, then there'll be no more until my next encounter :)
Click on the photo for more shots from this series.
Struggling on
Severn Rainbow
This 25 second exposure was taken from Awre on the River Severn. The shower that generated this rainbow was heading east towards Gloucester. There's a faint vertical rainbow connecting the two arcs, which I think must be the main rainbow reflecting back up from the river.
Muddy Waters
This was shot on the same day as the similar previous shot, although some time apart. It's a few steps back from the last shot, but essentially the same view using a 180 second exposure.
Convergence
I took this one just over a month ago, but there's a very similar scene outside today as we had a fresh snowfall on Thursday, and more is expected soon.
Wyedean Rally
It's a car being driven very fast. That's about all I know about rallying! I didn't set out to watch the rally and just snapped a few shots at one of the corners as we passed. I think it's the sort of thing I'd love to have a go at, but wouldn't get much enjoyment from spectating. The rest is copied from elsewhere...
The Wyedean Forest Rally first took place in the Forest of Dean in 1975, since then the event has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the premier one-day Forest stage rallies in the UK. Organised by the Forest of Dean Motor Club, it is the first round of two major National Championships and a round of several Regional Championships. Over recent years it has attracted a capacity entry of 180 cars (the maximum possible in the UK). www.wyedeanrally.com
Fallow Deer
This is one of a group of 4 or 5 deer that were just rousing from their sleep. This one is just getting to her feet. The black shape under her head is the rear of a larger deer still led down behind her.
Preparation
Another photo from the shoot at Awre with Lydneykopite who I've captured here setting up a shot, looking far more professional than me with my mud covered tripod and welly full of water :)
Liquid Chocolate
This was taken at Awre on an overcast evening. Awre was originally one of the largest Forest Parishes and was held by the King, but it also claimed some lands in the parish of Slimbridge across the river. In the mid-13th century, the main river channel that runs down the estuary switched its course and began to erode away the shore, riverbank and land on the Awre side. As a result of this erosion, it is estimated that Awre lost about one third of its territory and even today, the parish boundary is set about three quarters of the way across the estuary as if the parish is hoping that one day, its lands will be restored.
This was a 2 minute exposure.
Wild Boar in the snow
Another instalment to the wild boar in the snow series I started posting about a month back. With an estimated population of 100 or so boar in a forest of about 110 square kilometers, coupled with the fact that boar are capable of travelling many miles in a night makes spotting them very hard. I found plenty fresh evidence of the boar today, but I reckon all wildlife was keeping a very low profile today, as the Wyedean Rally was tearing through the forest.
*click on the photo for more in the series*
Fallow Deer, Forest of Dean
This was taken in the middle of January in the Forest of Dean just as the snow had virtually gone. There's three deer in the frame, but two of them are completely out of sight behind the trees on the left.
Remembrance
This was taken during the heavy snow in January, same time and place in the Forest of Dean as the previous snowy barn shot. I've no idea what the story is with the solitary grave/memorial.